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| Estimated incidence of Chagas disease in the Americas |
It is known how
insects can be vectors for terrible diseases. Yellow fever and malaria are
evidence of that. But, have you have ever heard about Chagas disease?
Considered the “Aids
of Latin America”, this disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan transmitted to humans by several
insects. These insects bite a human to feed on its blood. Then, the human
scratch the bite and that gets the T.
cruzi into the person’s blood. Chagas
disease is so lethal because the protozoan attacks the nervous system, the
digestive system and heart. In addition, symptoms for its chronic stage can
only be seen after many years (about 10 to 20 years later). And, of course, the
result will be always the same: death.
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| Chilean vinchuca (Triatoma infestans) |
Believe it or not,
Chile is hometown for this disease. It is transmitted by “vinchucas” (Triatoma infestans): insects which live
mainly in rural areas. Chagas was considered eradicated in 2000. Nevertheless,
in 2002 the Ministry of Health started a campaign to teach people how to
prevent this deadly disease. This campaign was released in hospitals from rural
areas because of the characteristics of the disease. However, experts have stated
that this disease is not a “countryside illness” anymore, because vinchucas are
adapting to live in urban areas. In fact, this statement is becoming stronger
nowadays because of several cases detected in urban and pre-urban places.
Chagas is perhaps a
disease which has not been studied enough, even though has deadly consequences.
Should this disease remain so unknown? Do we need more studies about it? How
can we take responsibility in order to prevent this disease? For more
information check the links below:
- An article by the Daily Mail about Chagas disease in America.
- A news report by American broadcast company Univision (Spanish language)
